Chief
Secy, DGP told to take actionTrafficking of women in PunjabChandigarh, September 12
The Punjab State Women Commission has directed the Chief Secretary and the Director-General of Police
to take action against those indulging in trafficking of women. At the same time, it also observed that after identifying these women and their grievances, efforts should be made to get them released in case their detention was against their wishes.

Ex-Cong MLA’s father threatens suicideBathinda, September 12
A move which can affect Congress prospects in the Lok Sabha elections Mr Gian Singh, a freedom fighter and father of late Congress MLA Baldev Singh Pakka Kalan who died in a terrorist attack along with former Chief Minister Beant Singh on August 31, 1995, today threatened to commit suicide to protest against the attitude of Punjab Congress leadership towards his plight.

Teachers of private colleges strike workAmritsar, September 12
Teachers working in private colleges in the district, under the banner of the Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers Union, held a rally at Hindu College here today.
They threatened an education bandh call if the government failed to meet their demands.

Students endorse move to grade teachersFaridkot, September 12
A large number of students of the local Kendriya Vidyalaya have endorsed the proposal of the Central Government to give powers to the taught from class-VI to senior secondary level of these institutions to grade the performance of their teachers in the classroom twice a year.

Dr Parminder Singh deadLudhiana, September 12
Dr Parminder Singh, the founder of Punjabi Bhawan and historian of Punjabi literature, breathed his last here yesterday. He was suffering from paralysis and was bed-ridden for quite some time.
He served the Punjabi Sahit Academy, known as ‘Punjab da Makka’,
ever since its existence.

Minor raped at aunt’s houseRaman Mandi (Bathinda), September 12
In a bizarre incident, a local minor was raped by two persons for days on end with the help of an aunt of the victim at Jogewala village here. The suspects then struck a deal with a resident of Sirsa district in Haryana to sell off the victim to him under the garb of marriage.

Army caught in cable warJalandhar, September 12
The Army today alleged that private cable TV operators in the Jalandhar cantonment had been showing “objectionable and pornographic” programmes.
It has also refuted the allegations that the Siti Cable network in the cantonment has been disrupted by the Army.

Mohit Gupta elected BJP dist unit chiefBathinda, September 12
Mr Mohit Gupta, a senior activist of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, was elected president of the district unit of the BJP on Monday evening.
Though five BJP activists had filed their nomination papers for the election to the post of president, Mr Gupta was elected president unanimously with the blessing of senior party leaders because of his work for the party in the past few years.

Cong dharna against Centre’s policiesHoshiarpur, September 12
Members of the District Congress Committee, headed by its president, Mr Kuldip Nanda, the District Youth Congress, led by its president, Mr Arun Dogra, and the women’s wing of the DCC, led by its president, Ms Taranjit Sethi, staged dharna in front of the office of the General Manager (Telecom) here today in protest against the alleged anti-people policies of the NDA government.

Ex-servicemen to get tubewell connections on priorityFerozepore, September 12
The Punjab Government has decided to release tubewell connections to ex-servicemen and serving Army jawans on an out-of-turn priority basis.
This was stated by Mr Ravinder Singh Sandhu, Parliamentary Secretary for NRIs, while addressing ex-servicemen at a function organised to pay homage to 21 gallant soldiers of 36 Sikh Regiment who died while defending Fort Saragarhi in Wazirstan on September 12, 1897, against an attack by over 10,000
Pathans.

Probe into suicide by Akali leader beginsMoga, September 12
The DIG of Ferozepore Police Range, Mr Hardish Singh Randhawa, on the direction of the Punjab State Human Rights Commission yesterday started an inquiry into the mysterious death of Akali leader Gurdyal Singh Brar who allegedly committed suicide with his licensed revolver on July 6.

CBI seeks report on ‘freedom fighters’Jalandhar, September 12
The CBI has asked the local Deputy Commissioner to submit a detailed report on the 25 ‘freedom fighters’ who were allegedly receiving grants and other allowances by submitting fake documents about their role during the freedom struggle.

INLD youth wing chief among
eight hurtAbohar, September 12
Mr Bharat Shastri, state president of the youth wing of the Indian National Lok Dal and Mr Suresh
Satija, president, Pesticides and Fertilisers Association, and six others were injured in clashes that started from their commercial establishments at Gumjal village and continued inside the emergency ward of Nehru Memorial Civil Hospital here afterwards.

Commissioner warns govt officialsRampura Phul, September 12
Mr B. Sarkar, Commissioner, Ferozepore division, yesterday warned the government officials that any laxity on their part to perform their duties honestly and regularly would not be tolerated and all erring officials would be taken to task.

Rally against privatisationRopar, September 12
The Ropar wing of the Punjab and UT Employees Joint Action Committee today held a dharna and a rally at the local bus stand against the privatisation policies of the Punjab Government. Mr Sukhdev Singh, convener of the committee while speaking on the occasion accused the Punjab Government of not fulfilling the promises made to employees in the election manifesto of the party.

Honour for Punjabi singersChandigarh, September 12
Sukhwinder of "Chhahian-chhahian" fame will be honoured with the best Bollywood singer award and Sarbjit Cheema with the best Punjabi male folk singer for this year. The others artistes who will be honoured with various awards are Kamaljit Neeru (best female singer), Shanker Sahney (best pop singer), Vivek Shauk (best comedian), Monmohan Singh (best director and cinematographer), Jarnail Basota (best event director), Pamma Canadian (classical singer) and Lakhwinder Pand (Punjabi virsa award).

Details on last remains of Indian prisoners soughtAmritsar, September 12
The International Bhai Mardana Yaadgari Kirtan Darbar Society has appealed to the superintendent of Kot Lakhpat jail, Mohammed
Afzal, for the details regarding the last remains of the 10 Indian prisoners at the jail.

High CourtDGP summoned in missing persons’ caseChandigarh, September 12
Mystery continues to shroud the disappearance of at least five residents of Mahal village in Amritsar district who were allegedly picked up by the Jammu and Kashmir police. Months after they vanished, the police here is clueless about their whereabouts.

Dental college told to return securityFaridkot, September 12
The District Consumer and Redressal Forum, Faridkot, has directed Baba Jaswant Singh Dental College Hospital Research Institute, Ludhiana, to return the security of Rs 15,000 to Neeta
Gaba, a resident of this town, who is now studying at Government Dental College, Patiala.

MP seeks MSP for pulses, maizePatiala, September 12
The local MP, Ms Preneet Kaur today, called upon the Central Government to announce and implement the minimum support price
for pulses, oilseed and maize to save agriculture.

Three charged with raping minor, two arrestedJalandhar, September 12
Three youths allegedly raped a school girl at Kallowali Mohalla here today. The police has caught two of them.
The police said Sanjiv Kalia of Upadhaya Nagar here had persuaded the 13- year-old girl to accompany him to his Kallowali house.

Two killed in accidentRopar, September 12
Two occupants of a Tata Indica car were killed when their car collided with a truck on the Ropar-Nawanshahar road near the truck union crossing of the Asron Industrial Area, about 4 km from here, today.

Man kills brotherHoshiarpur, September 12
Attacked allegedly by his brother on August 29, Bhupinder Singh (30) succumbed to his injuries in local civil hospital today morning, the police said.

22 proclaimed offenders heldJalandhar, September 12
The district police today claimed to have arrested 22 proclaimed offenders, who were evading arrest since long. Proclaimed offenders were arrested during the past one week.

Inspector caught taking bribeBathinda, September 12
Mr Gurtej Singh, Inspector, Department of Food and Supplies, was caught by a team of the Vigilance Bureau today while taking a bribe of Rs 5,000 from a depot holder in connection with the physical verification of stocks.

5 kg of opium seized
from tourist busAmritsar, September 12
The Durgiana police chowki today seized 5 kg of opium packed in boxes of electronics goods which were earlier seized from a tourist bus intercepted here.
The seizure has assumed significance as this is perhaps for the first time that such a big haul was seized through tourist buses in the holy city.

In-laws booked
for dowry deathSangrur, September 12
Shinder Kaur (24), wife of Beant Singh of Longowal village, died last night. She had consumed some poisonous substance. The police said her in-laws had been harassing her for dowry.

‘Irregularities’ in B.Ed counsellingChandigarh, September 12
Uncertainty prevails among 100-odd students of Chandigarh, who were forced to take admissions in far-off B Ed colleges in Punjab due to irregularities committed by Guru Nanak Dev University
in admissions this year.

Traders oppose council's decisionFazilka, September 12
The local Beopar Mandal, has opposed the decision of the municipal council to lease the octroi on contract. Mr Ashok Kumar Gulbadhar and Mr Satish
Dhingra, secretary, respectively of the mandal representing more than 24 traders organisation in a strongly worded statement said here today that all traders of the town have criticised the council's decision.